Sault Ste. MarieNot a ballot

Voter guide · Nov 3, 2026

Sault Ste. Marie Mayor & City Commission Election 2026

4 of 7 council seats are on the ballot, with 6 candidates running. Updated Oct 5, 2026. Every claim links to its source. How we check

Not sure who to vote for? Answer 5 questions and see which candidates agree with you, and why.

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Nov 3Election Day

How to vote · 11 days left

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Election Day (Nov 3): the election office's notice

These links go to official state and county election sites. Hours and rules differ by state; your election office has the final word.

The candidates

Listed alphabetically by last name. Every position links to its source.

Two candidates are running for mayor and four are running for three commission seats; city residents vote on both contests.

Election Day · Nov 3

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Also on your Nov 3 ballot

We research city races only. For these races, go to the state's official guide or a nonpartisan one.

  • Governor
    • Jocelyn Benson · Democratic Party
    • John James · Republican Party
    • Anthony Hudson · Libertarian Party
    • Donna Brandenburg · U.S. Taxpayers Party
    • Douglas Campbell · Green Party
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • U.S. Senate
    • Abdul El-Sayed · Democratic Party
    • Mike Rogers · Republican Party
    • Lydia Christensen · Libertarian Party
    • Tim Long · U.S. Taxpayers Party
    • Douglas P. Marsh · Green Party
    • Walter P. Kristy · Natural Law Party
    Official candidate list, in its order
  • Also statewideSecretary of State · Attorney General · Member of the State Board of Education · Regent of the University of Michigan · Trustee of Michigan State University · Justice of Supreme Court
  • U.S. HouseDistrict 1
  • State SenateDistrict 37
  • State House of RepresentativesDistrict 107
  • Statewide measures2 on the ballot: the state's official explanations
Official voter lookupState voter guideVote411 (League of Women Voters)

Districts come from 2020 Census blocks and the district maps for this election. Your address decides your districts.

Already on the council, not on the ballot

Whoever you elect will govern alongside these members.

Officeholders' pages compare what they've said with how they've voted, with sources.

What the next council decides

01Downtown sidewalks, snow and parking4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe commission voted in November 2025 to collect funds from downtown business owners for sidewalk snow removal, and a downtown parking committee is planned once the new city manager is in place.

What's on the tableThe next commission will decide how winter snow removal is paid for and staffed, and how downtown parking is managed and enforced.

02City manager and downtown leadership4 sourced facts

Where it standsA new city manager, Patrick Reagan, joined the city in August 2026 after the commission approved his employment agreement.

What's on the tableThe next commission will work with the new city manager, who oversees departments and the annual budget, and with the downtown development leadership.

03Roads, water and sewer projects4 sourced facts

Where it standsThe city is moving ahead with a roughly $34 million wastewater plant contract and up to $40 million in water and sewer revenue bonds.

What's on the tableThe next commission will oversee construction and financing of water, sewer and road projects and set the rates that pay for them.

04City budget and property taxes3 sourced facts

Where it standsThe commission adopted the 2026-2027 budget and 2026 tax levy on May 18, 2026, with the General Fund balance projected near the low end of the city's policy range.

What's on the tableThe next commission will decide future budgets and tax rates while keeping the General Fund balance within city policy as large capital projects are completed.

05Local economy and the Soo Locks4 sourced facts

Where it standsCandidates say the city needs to prepare for the end of the Locks project, expected around 2030, and the commission has backed restoring public access gates to the Locks.

What's on the tableThe next commission will decide how the city attracts employers and investment, including whether to offer incentives to businesses.

4 notes on these statements

Steve Habusta is a sitting commissioner running for mayor, and his commission seat is also on the ballot. SooLeader · Sep 5, 2026

Ray Bauer and Scott D. Marble are sitting commissioners whose seats are up for election. SooLeader · Sep 5, 2026

Don Gerrie and Steve Habusta issued a joint statement pledging a civil campaign in September 2026. SooLeader · Sep 5, 2026

The League of Women Voters VOTE411 guide showed no answers from Scott D. Marble to its candidate questions as of October 2026. VOTE411 (League of Women Voters)

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Who matches you?

Answer any of these questions. We compare your answers with each person's sourced record, and nothing is stored. Questions where no one has a sourced record yet are left out. Tap a selected answer again to skip it.

  1. 1. Who should pay to clear snow from downtown sidewalks?

  2. 2. How should the city improve its response to heavy snow?

  3. 3. How should the city approach road repair?

  4. 4. What should the city do to make streets safer for walking and biking?

  5. 5. What should the city do first to attract and keep businesses?

Seat the councilSeat the Council →Pick a winner for each open seat and see where the resulting council stands on each issue.On the recordHow the council voted5 council decisions, each member's vote side by side, with a link to the minutes.New · How Sault Ste. Marie is runWho runs Sault Ste. Marie, and what it costsThe city manager earns $128,000. See council pay, whether the city is in the red, and where your property tax goes.

Key dates

The seat math

3 stay (not up this year): Jodi Bosbous-Rath, Andrew Rubinstein, Tim Talentino4 on this ballot

7 council seats. The council decides by a 4-vote majority.

Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works

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